Pass Transistor Logic (PTL) is a well known approach for implementing digital circuits. In order to handle larger designs and also to ensure that the total number of series devices in the resulting circuit is bounded, partitioned Reduced Ordered Binary Decision Diagrams (ROBDDs) can be used to generate the PTL circuit. The output signals of each partitioned block typically needs to be buffered. In this thesis, a new methodology is presented to perform generalized buffering of the outputs of PTL blocks. By performing the Boolean division of each PTL block using different gates in a library, we select the gate that results in the largest reduction in the height of the PTL block. In this manner, these gates serve the function of buffering the outputs of the PTL blocks, while also reducing the height and delay of the PTL block. PTL synthesis with generalized buffering was implemented in two different ways. In the first approach, Boolean division was used to perform generalized buffering. In the second approach, compatible observability don't cares (CODCs) were utilized in tandem with Boolean division to simplify the ROBDDs and to reduce the logic in PTL structure. Also CODCs were computed in two different manners: one using full simplify to compute complete CODCs and another using, approximate CODCs (ACODCs). Over a number of examples, on an average, generalized buffering without CODCs results in a 24% reduction in delay, and a 3% improvement in circuit area, compared to a traditional buffered PTL implementation. When ACODCs were used, the delay was reduced by 29%, and the total area was reduced by 5% compared to traditional buffering. With complete CODCs, the delay and area reduction compared to traditional buffering was 28% and 6% respectively. Therefore, results show that generalized buffering provides better implementation of the circuits than the traditional buffering method.

Though many believe some of the greatest military leaders of all time - from Alexander the Great to Julius Caesar - have engaged in sex acts with other males, and though certainly a very different political climate from that of ancient Greece or Rome, the United States military has historically never accepted homosexual sex acts within its own military, nor has the United States military accepted open homosexuals either until recently. This thesis focuses on the evolution of United States military policy towards homosexuals and the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy of the United States military in order to recommend a path that the United States can follow to provide an equal opportunity for success of openly homosexual service members. This research traces the history of policy towards homosexuality in the United States military up through the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and its repeal. This research discusses changing governmental policies towards homosexuals in the military, as well as changing public opinions about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". This research also outlines discharges under the policy, connecting changing public opinion to the policy's eventual repeal. Through the analysis of statistics surrounding discharges, opinion surveys, and anecdotal evidence, this research evaluates the level of acceptance for openly homosexual service members in a post-DADT world. These findings will then be compared with the adjustment of troops in Great Britain and Canada, who each have experienced relative success in the integration of homosexual troops, in order to make a recommendation for a course of action that the United States could take in order to help better the adjustment of soldiers to a non-exclusionary policy.

Multi-node optimization using Boolean relations is a powerful approach for network minimization. The approach has been studied in theory, and so far its superiority over single node optimization techniques has only been conjectured for practical designs. This is due to the highly memory intensive computations involved in the calculation of Boolean relations representing the multi-node optimization exibility. In this thesis, an algorithm to perform Boolean relation-based multi-node optimization using a robust, fast and memory efcient algorithm is presented. In particular, two nodes are simultaneously optimized at a time. Results are reported on large designs, demonstrating the initial power of this multi-node optimization algorithm. The robustness of the approach arises from the use of a window-based technique for computing these Boolean relations. Secondly, aggressive early quantication is performed during the computation, keeping memory utilization low. Finally, smart heuristics are employed for selecting the node pair to be optimized simultaneously. These features allow the approach to scale well and provide good results for large designs. Experiments are performed on a set of large benchmarks and the algorithm's performance is compared to a SAT-based network optimization technique using complete don't cares. On average, the approach presented in this thesis achieves a 12% reduction in literal count across all the large designs compared to the complete don't cares, while maintaining small runtimes and low memory usage.

Multi-node optimization using Boolean relations is a powerful approach for network minimization. The approach has been studied in theory, and so far its superiority over single node optimization techniques has only been conjectured for practical designs. This is due to the highly memory intensive computations involved in the calculation of Boolean relations representing the multi-node optimization exibility. In this thesis, an algorithm to perform Boolean relation-based multi-node optimization using a robust, fast and memory efcient algorithm is presented. In particular, two nodes are simultaneously optimized at a time. Results are reported on large designs, demonstrating the initial power of this multi-node optimization algorithm. The robustness of the approach arises from the use of a window-based technique for computing these Boolean relations. Secondly, aggressive early quantication is performed during the computation, keeping memory utilization low. Finally, smart heuristics are employed for selecting the node pair to be optimized simultaneously. These features allow the approach to scale well and provide good results for large designs. Experiments are performed on a set of large benchmarks and the algorithm's performance is compared to a SAT-based network optimization technique using complete don't cares. On average, the approach presented in this thesis achieves a 12% reduction in literal count across all the large designs compared to the complete don't cares, while maintaining small runtimes and low memory usage.

The writings of this thesis will expose the recent account of an actor's journey while working as a writer, director, & actress. Historical facts, journal entries, personal cast photos, an excerpt of the WDQ script, highlights of the first excerpt premiere of Winners Don't Quit, and so much more are just a few features this thesis uncovers while relating to the actress process as she discovers her artistic voice. Instead of finding an acting opportunity she's created one for herself, and other aspiring artists. The scope of the research was done on a local and national level featuring a collection of material in support to the main thesis.

Master of Arts / Department of Communications Studies / Timothy R. Steffensmeier / The military operates through a system of gender and sexuality hierarchies that privilege masculinity and heterosexuality as the ideal category of service member. This symbolic national institution is also conceptually tied to notions of citizenship. For marginalized groups, gaining the ability to freely enlist in the military represents a benchmark toward achieving full and equal status as political subjects. Such has been the case for the mainstream lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights movement. For much of the past century, military discourses have aided in rhetorically constructing homosexual identities as pathological, deviant, and unfit to serve in the armed forces. A recent shift in this rhetoric from Department of Defense (DoD) officials, which contributed to a repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, calls into question how changing discourses about gay and lesbian service members rhetorically construct queer citizenship. To answer this question, theories of gender and sexuality performance, corporeal rhetoric, and critical security discourse inform an analysis of the Report of the Comprehensive Review of the Issues Associated with a Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, a DoD document assessing potential risks to the military upon repeal. The analysis reveals that despite assertions made in the document that open service by gay men and lesbians poses minimal threat, this claim is ultimately grounded in the presumption that institutional hegemony adequately constrains performative possibilities for LGB identity articulation.

Thesis advisor: Penelope Ismay / In this thesis, I examine the history of the U.S. military’s stance on homosexual and bisexual service personnel and the political and cultural influences that changed this stance. Even though the military held a largely anti-homosexual attitude for much of its history, it was only during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s that the military declared itself as antigay. At the same time, the American public attempted to address the epidemic in terms of both public health and civil rights. The public chose to protect the gay community’s civil rights, so the military had to follow suit. President Bill Clinton created “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as a compromise between the alleged military needs and pubic demands. Paradoxically, this policy actually increased discharges of homosexual personnel, cost the military financially, and bred fear and isolation within homosexual service members. And it was the exposure of these injustices that led to its repeal. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: History.

Even with the repeal of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (DADT) policy, the U.S. Army has seen increased cases of sexual harassment; sexual assault; and discrimination of gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) service members by other service members. Despite this trend, few studies have explored the experiences of victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault of GLB recruits before, during, and after the repeal of the DADT policy. Using the bystander effect as the theoretical construct, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences and interactions with a sample of 11 drill sergeants (DSs) who witnessed GLB discrimination in order to gain insight on strategies to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination against GLB recruits. Interview data were inductively coded and subjected to a thematic analysis procedure. Key findings indicate that participants perceived a general support for GLB inclusion into the basic combat training environment, and participants were unaware of the high number of discharges of service members from the U.S. Army during the implementation of the DADT policy. Another important finding is that participants were supportive of GLB scenario-based training. Finally, the bystander effect was found to be the main reason participants failed to intervene when instances of discriminatory or abusive behavior was observed. Implications for positive social change can be realized in the U.S. Army through promoting awareness of GLB discrimination, its impact, and how DSs can lead the effort in preventing this sort of behavior against the GLB recruits. A key recommendation is for the U.S. Army to explore implementing scenario-based training for all recruits as part of this effort.

When a vehicle enters an intersection with insufficient space to exit on the opposite side the result is often the obstruction of pedestrians and other vehicles, this phenomenon is usually referred to as "blocking the box." The purpose of this study was to determine different characteristics of blocking that might be considered in determining the installment of a "Don't Block the Box" (DBTB) campaign. This study identified potentially problematic intersections in Atlanta, Georgia and collected information, such as the number of vehicles that block the intersection (box junction), the amount of green time with blocking, and the percentages in which approaches were blocked. Based on the results it was found the characteristics of the number of blockers, percentage of green time with blocking, and the percentage of lost capacity are excellent indicators for a possible DBTB campaign. Organizations interested in potentially starting a DBTB should consider these characteristics part of the determination of suitability of DBTB for an intersection. Within this study is was found that the intersections of Peachtree Road & Highland Drive, Peachtree Road & Stratford Road, Peachtree Road & Lenox Mall Entrance, and 10th Street & Williams Street showed to be potential candidates for a DBTB campaign in Atlanta, Georgia. During the study period these intersections had high percentages of lost capacity, high number of blocks, and high percentages of green time with blocking. In conjunction with the DBTB data analysis a "DBTB survey" was developed. The objective of this survey was to help gain a better understanding of the current trends in DBTB campaigns around the United States. The "DBTB Survey" received 75 responses from 415 organizations around the nation, a 18.1% response rate. Six (60%) of the ten participants that currently have a DBTB campaign found a sufficient level of improvement in traffic operations and 46 of the total respondents (60%) proclaimed that if DBTB campaigns were shown to be an economical alternative for traffic management they would consider starting one to help congestion and safety.

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